Living on the edge: September is National Preparedness Month

Barbara Caldwell, executive director with the Humboldt County branch of the American Red Cross, recommends the public gather an emergency kit to keep in a bag tied to the foot of their beds in case of an earthquake occurring at night — like the 6.0 Napa quake that struck at 3:20 a.m. last Sunday.

The North Coast is no stranger to large earthquakes — with around two dozen registering magnitude-6.0 or greater hitting since 1976, including a 6.8 quake-up call in March.

Knowing how to get to higher ground, drop and cover, and keep an eye on the ocean will help keep North Coast residents safe from three of the most dangerous things Mother Nature has to throw at us: tsunamis, earthquakes and sneaker waves, said Troy Nicolini, warning coordination meteorologist for the Eureka office of the National Weather Service.

For residents who might still be meaning to put together a disaster kit, September is National Preparedness Month.

"Preparedness is like any other goal — start somewhere," said Barbara Caldwell, executive director with the Humboldt County branch of the American Red Cross. "Instead of thinking that the whole goal has to be done, start somewhere. Do one thing now. Just start."

Caldwell recommends starting by gathering an emergency kit to keep in a bag tied to the foot of your bed in case of an earthquake occurring at night— like the 6.0 Napa quake that struck at 3:20 a.m. last Sunday.

"We all think we have a flashlight somewhere, or water somewhere," she said. "You need to know where somewhere is."

In addition to a flashlight and water, Caldwell recommends everyone add hard-soled shoes to the bag.

One of the most prevalent injuries is cut feet from broken glass, which was the case in Napa, she said.

In addition to keeping essentials at the office and in a car, Lori Dengler, a Humboldt State geologist who specializes in natural hazard mitigation, said discussing an action plan and practicing that plan are crucial steps.

"It has been demonstrated that talking is the key to becoming more prepared," she said. "If you don't talk about it, you are never going to move toward being more prepared."

Nicolini said these discussions can be a fun family or community activity, and it should start with a dinner-table conversation about emergency action plans.

"We have two really different kinds of hazards around here, really big things that happen infrequently, and chronic hazards," he said.

"Around here, we have earthquakes and tsunamis every so often," he said. "But with sneaker waves, it is really a different animal."

The best thing you can do to keep safe from sneaker waves is to be aware of your location, the type of beach, and to never turn your back on the ocean, he said.

Preparing for any natural disaster or other emergency has a ripple effect, said Dan Larkin, emergency service coordinator for Humboldt County.

"Among the emergency managers there is a saying — a disaster is a disaster is a disaster," Larkin said. "We don't care which one you prepare for; If you prepare for one, you are going to be substantially prepared for any other."